That's too bad. I like to peel potatoes at idle. Guess I better get right on that. I bet mine is idling around 600 right now. Just by ear.
Speed and Gear
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 2,554
From: UK
The thing is, these bikes actually love higher revs.
I try to keep mine in the 2500-4000 rpm range for the best response most of the time, although 5K shifts are not uncommon as my setup really like the higher revs. I don't ever worry about speed for shifting - just listen to the engine instead. They sound really, really good at 4K+ rpm :-)
But for chugging around town - probably the 2-3K range.
I try to keep mine in the 2500-4000 rpm range for the best response most of the time, although 5K shifts are not uncommon as my setup really like the higher revs. I don't ever worry about speed for shifting - just listen to the engine instead. They sound really, really good at 4K+ rpm :-)
But for chugging around town - probably the 2-3K range.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
I've never put a tach on mine. I don't know what it idles at! I really need to get an inductive pickup for my DVM so I can at least set the idle safely. I've heard the Twin Cam oil pump doesn't do well at potato speeds.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Honestly it doesn't. I've played with the idle using the Power Vision, monitoring my oil pressure gauge at a -100 there's no change to oil pressure at idle. At a -150 you'll see a reduction in oil pressure; at -200 the oil pressure barely registers on the gauge; needle won't hardly budge. At a -100 my Wide Glide idles 840 - 940 RPM with no drop in oil pressure but go lower, and it's a fools errand...
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,546
Likes: 8,380
From: Inland NW
Honestly it doesn't. I've played with the idle using the Power Vision, monitoring my oil pressure gauge at a -100 there's no change to oil pressure at idle. At a -150 you'll see a reduction in oil pressure; at -200 the oil pressure barely registers on the gauge; needle won't hardly budge. At a -100 my Wide Glide idles 840 - 940 RPM with no drop in oil pressure but go lower, and it's a fools errand...
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 130
From: Vancouver
Wow u guys gear high. 60mph I'm still sit ting cozy at 3rd. I don't ever get into 3rd gear in the city. At a brisk hwy pace I'm still only on 4th gear.
5th only ever kicks in if I'm just ripping it home before a rain cloud catches me.
I sit at 3500-4000 rpm cruising.
6th gear is as lonely as my divorced wife. I never go there.
5th only ever kicks in if I'm just ripping it home before a rain cloud catches me.
I sit at 3500-4000 rpm cruising.
6th gear is as lonely as my divorced wife. I never go there.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 593
Likes: 7
From: Wausau, WI
I'm about the same. 2300+. anything below and she get grouchy on my 09 fxdf. 70+ for 6th gear, so I rarely use it. I never had a tach until recently and was actually surprised how high of rpm the bike and I both prefer. And nots not for hot roddin' around - I can just feel and hear the bike prefers it.
The wife has a 15 fxdb that seems to be more tolerant of lower rpms. I can get it into 6th easily around 60-65. Her exhaust is also much quieter, so at faster speeds I'm relying way more on feel than I am feel and exhaust note.
The wife has a 15 fxdb that seems to be more tolerant of lower rpms. I can get it into 6th easily around 60-65. Her exhaust is also much quieter, so at faster speeds I'm relying way more on feel than I am feel and exhaust note.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
That 'feel' of upshifting and downshifting we talk about constantly has so much to do with the alignment of the bike; the Dyna is a unique beast in the HD world and lives and dies by that alignment. I've owned several Dyna's and each was different in that 'feel'; I've got this 103" dialed in to the point I can do 'put me in cuffs and impound the bike' speeds on the big sweepers following Lake Michigan; it's the alignment that will give you that upshift/downshift sensation. Go with it, each of these beasties are different, and that's why they're the greatest bikes HD ever built 
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 108
Likes: 4
From: Palmer, MA
I always hear riders around town short-shifting these 103's, the 103 is much more efficient at higher RPM's.
I keep the display set to gear/RPM and do glance at it. My upshifts will vary from 3500 - 4800 RPM depending on the situation. I cruise with my RPM's in the power band, basically 2600 RPM and higher and rev-match downshift to always be in the correct gear to stay in the power band. If I'm cruising at 50 MPH I'll be in 3rd gear; 4th is too low and out of the power band, I don't use 6th until 75+ MPH. At 70 MPH in 6th you're right at the bottom of the power band.
One thing, those numbers are all predicated on the fact the bike is fully warmed up. Running a bike hard when they're cold is one of the worst things you can do to them... all those shift points are much lower until she's fully warmed up
I keep the display set to gear/RPM and do glance at it. My upshifts will vary from 3500 - 4800 RPM depending on the situation. I cruise with my RPM's in the power band, basically 2600 RPM and higher and rev-match downshift to always be in the correct gear to stay in the power band. If I'm cruising at 50 MPH I'll be in 3rd gear; 4th is too low and out of the power band, I don't use 6th until 75+ MPH. At 70 MPH in 6th you're right at the bottom of the power band.
One thing, those numbers are all predicated on the fact the bike is fully warmed up. Running a bike hard when they're cold is one of the worst things you can do to them... all those shift points are much lower until she's fully warmed up
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